Our Teachers in Life

💚Kia Ora! How beautiful is this day? Well if you're living in Melbourne, it's a bit of a treat. In saying that, it may start to snow at any time too so who knows? 😆

It's been a while since I've jumped on my page.  I really don't have much of a reason why, I guess ....life can throw you some doozers where a lot of the times you try and work it all through on your own. The time seems to fly by and you think, " 'shut', what just happened?" Or "That went by so fast, it just feels like a 'blurr' in the moment. Geesh, crazy sometimes! 

Revisiting My Roots and Embracing Change 🌱

For me, I found myself more .....not really re-discovering myself but more revisiting.  Taking note of what's gone and then putting some things into perspective where usually I'd probably just take or accept it is what it is.  Putting a lil tag on it and then leaving that part of 'me' where it is.  Things are different now. I've grown, taking off these layers of what "others" would want to be perceived out there in the world when actually it's sticky 'shut' that really can't find a reason to stick anymore. It has no purpose so it starts to break down into whatever it needs to, to dissolve.  Funny how that stuff just happens. Whatever you give energy to, grows. 

Journeying into My Māori Heritage 🌺

Re-visiting myself started me on a journey, more of learning ways of my culture, more the language and the wisdom it has to offer.  Being Māori, I've been embracing what that all means and how it breathes into my life. Living in Australia for over half my life, I feel drawn back to my roots to just, be. It's like this safe space of purpose where I can blanket myself in and feel what it has for me. I'm not sure how to explain it. It's pretty cool stuff. 

Geesh, maybe turning 50 gave me a wake-up call, having all this,  knocking at my door. Either way, this part of me is more apparent in my life, I'm loving the journey- clenching my buttcheeks at the 'changes' coming my way. Eeek! 

Cherishing Connections and Choosing Love 💖

It's funny really, I remember when I started this journey of Acceptance, a lot of it was really also trying to accept the "māori-ness" of me.  I don't even think that is a word but it seems to fit! 

When I was a kid, things were just 'friggin hard'.  I'd run around still cracking up, doing the kid thing - but 'hiding' the feelings or the thoughts that we struggle with at times.  Everyone's childhood is different, and people have 'stuff', I get that. It's also not about 'what happened in your childhood' but it's amazing how much is moulded, and contributes to some things we face today.  The choices we make. The chances we give.  It's all in the mix, of who we become - not necessarily who we are. 

hmm, there are some pretty good lessons that we learn and the "teachers" that pop into our lives might only be a 'One Lesson Wonder" (see what I did there?😉)  and whoever they are, whether you like them or not are valid and if you're lucky enough to notice, are important in that moment.  Some "teachers" are still with us, like family and friends - our animals (yup, they teach us important stuff too!)

I was having a conversation with my babe the other day about how people in our lives affect us, in the way of making us feel the way we do. Whether you feel like crap or better around the "teachers" in your life and a lot of that is really about the aspect of their behaviour. 

She said " You have to remember that we don't choose a lot of those people in our life. They are there and we love them regardless. 

But you and I,  we actually chose each other so we need to make sure we treat each other with love and kindness in all that we go through together. This is our life. I chose you and you chose me."

She's a keeper that one! 😏 

Sometimes I just need to bounce stuff off her, just to get it all clear.  To have someone hold a safe space and I mean completely safe, I'm so very grateful. 

The moral of the story is we just gotta love the 'shut' out of people, feel strong within ourselves and just say "fug it" to all the rest, or maybe "forgive" all the rest. Whatever word you choose for you is the right one! 

Well, that's it from me. I need to get back to some 'creative juicing'. Let me leave you with some words of wisdom.... well a made-up quote from me anyway. 

"In the book of life, the chapters might be unpredictable, but if you love the ‘shut' out of people and forgive the rest, you'll be the author of a hilarious bestseller!" - Michelle Rupuha

Have the most amazing day for you!  

Love your guts, Shel 💚